Bowls International — November 2017

November 2017 BOWLS INTERNATIONAL 13

SAVEGAR TROPHY

Mid Wales won the Welsh Women’s Bowling Association’s county championship,

the Savegar Trophy, for the second year running and eighth time when they beat

Glamorgan 122-101 at Ebbw Vale Welfare BC. “Winning the Savegar Trophy is the icing on the cake to what has been an enjoyable and

memorable season as president,” said Caroline Jones, of Llanidloes BC.

Mid Wales won the Savegar Trophy

for the second year running

UNDER 18S TEST MATCH SELECTED

The Welsh Women’s Bowling Association have selected the

following for the U18 test match against England in September:

Lauren Gowen, Sara John-Davies, Megan Jones, Anna Lawrence,

Alex Morgan, Rebecca Williams. Manager: Kathy Pearce.

KIDWELLY ABSOLUTE BOWLS

U25 BOWLS TOURNAMENT

Winners of Kidwelly Absolute Bowls Under 25s Bowls

Tournament were home club duo Josh Boyce and Jordan Driscoll.

The cup was presented by Fred Wookey, Carmarthenshire county

president. Runners-up were Katie Thomas, Whitland, and Gemma

Amos, Saundersfoot. “A high standard of bowls was played by

the youngsters which shows the future of Welsh bowls is looking

bright,” said event organiser David Kingdon.

R

ESOLVEN were crowned

first winners of the new

Barry Bowl double rink

competition.

The event, created by Chris

Wright and Barry Athletic Club,

chalked up success in its maiden

season and looks like being a

permanent fixture in the Welsh

bowls calendar for years to come.

“The format has seemed popular

with the smaller clubs who were

able to put out strong sides of

eight players rather than the usual

16 needed for Carruthers Shield

success,” said Chris.

“The early rounds provided many

notable upsets as Penygraig and

Machen both secured impressive

away victories at Ely Valley and

Harlequins respectively.”

The final four consisted of

Ferndale, Machen, Resolven and

the favourites RTB Ebbw Vale, who

boasted Commonwealth Games

nominees Jonathan Tomlinson and

Steve Harris in their ranks.

Finals day was hosted by Barry

Athletic BC.

“The draw for the semi-finals

was done on the morning of the

finals day and keeping in with its

traditions, it was streamed live on

Facebook,” continued Chris.

“The semi-finals drawn out were

Machen v Resolven and Ferndale v

RTB Ebbw Vale.”

Both semi-finals really were a tale

of two halves. Ferndale built up a

surprising 18-shot lead at around

the 12 end marker, with Martin

Jones and his rink in superb form

to lead Jonathan Tomlinson 18-3.

RTB Ebbw Vale showed their grit

and determination to get back into

the game though as Steve Harris

and his rink secured a win over

Ferndale’s quartet skipped by Paul

Jones.

This meant that the overall score

of the game was in favour of the

Ferndale boys by one-shot with the

Lauren may only be 14, but she

is fast building up her bowls CV.

She’s a Welsh international indoors

and outdoors, having been capped

indoors in 2013 when she was just

10, and outdoors the following

year, she has won the Welsh

indoor Under 18s pairs with Eric

Hughes twice and was runner-up

in indoor Welsh Under 18s rinks.

Runner up in the WWBA Under

18s singles, Lauren, who plays with

Taylor Vector VSs, made sure it

was third time lucky this year.

So what does Lauren like most

about bowls?

“Meeting new people and

spending time with friends,” she

says. But she dislikes games being

cancelled last minute outdoors!

Lauren, who likes spending time

with her friends in her spare time,

says her bowls heroes are World

Bowls gold medallist Jess Sims

from Llandrindod Wells BC and

Hanna Clarke, of Earlswood IBC,

whose rink Lauren played second

in when she was first capped

indoors.

And Lauren’s goal?

“Playing in the Commonwealth

Games.”

Ruthless Resolven deliver Barry Bowl success

final end commencing between

Jones and Tomlinson. A nervy end

took place, but it was the Ferndale

boys who showed their Rhondda

steel to pick up the single shot

needed to book their place in the

final.

The other semi final between

Resolven and Machen was level-

pegging at around the 13 end

mark with both rinks battling hard

against one another.

However, it was the West

Glamorgan outfit Resolven who

finished the game with a flourish

to secure a comfortable double

figures victory with both rinks up

and a place in the final.

The final started with the

Rhondda outfit coming out the

blocks quickly to lead 15-3 after

just five ends across the board

with Paul Jones holding a 10-

advantage over Lionel Stock.

This was as good as it got for the

Ferndale boys though as Resolven

put on a real classy display to come

back strong, win on both rinks and

even have time to showboat to the

crowd before the end.

“The final was played in great

spirits between both sides, but

in the end it was Resolven who

came out on top to pick up their

first bit of noticeable silverware for

some time, as well as a cheque for

£1,000,” added Chris.

“This year’s tournament and

winning team will look to provide

a platform for an even more

successful tournament next year

as the smaller clubs will fancy their

chances of being successful.”

The winning Resolven side were:

Shaun Kelly, Simon Williams, Steve

Allan and Andrew Hopkins; Gareth

Evans, Steve Gall, Richard Ace and

Lionel Stock.

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